Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the landing surface.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 2, 2005, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE-35-C33A, N3YP, was substantially damaged when it landed short of the runway at East Hampton Airport (HTO), East Hampton, New York. The certificated commercial pilot/owner and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, which originated at Meriden Markham Municipal Airport (MMK), Meriden, Connecticut.
According to the pilot, he was aiming to land on the "numbers" for runway 28. During the short final leg of the approach, the airplane's sink rate increased. The airplane landed "a few feet" short of the runway.
On July 26, 2005 a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and determined that it had sustained substantial damage during the off-runway landing.
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane. He reported 3,038 total hours of flight experience in single engine airplanes, 1,611 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model.
The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies associated with the airplane, and when asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated "better judgment."
The weather reported at East Hampton Airport, at 1550, included winds from 180 degrees at 6 knots, and scattered clouds at 10,000 feet.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD05LA109